KIRKSVILLE - On the weekend of June 14-16 in Columbia, Mo. the Missouri State Senior Games will take place and two local residents will be taking part.

Lois Foreman and Robert Ruble will be taking part in the Senior Games for the first time.

“This is a very good thing for senior citizens,” said Foreman.

The games are for ages 50 and older. Foreman will be participating with her son Michael who has competed in senior games in Colorado and Wyoming.

“Michael is the reason I am participating, he told me how much fun he had doing it in other states and it was something that we could do together,” said Foreman.

Michael who lives in Colorado will be taking part in archery, while Lois will be throwing washers.

Ruble who is more of a veteran of Olympic style games after participating in the Show-Me Games for seven years will also be throwing the washers as well as horseshoes and the softball accuracy toss.

“I have participated in the past when the Show-Me Games first started,” said Ruble.

Ruble who plays in two different horseshoe leagues, likes going out to show his stuff.

“I like competition. My wife always says, ‘You are way to competitive for an old man’ but that’s just the way I have been my whole life. I like going out and seeing if I’m better than someone else,” said Ruble.

The games feature 35 different events ranging from triathlons and swimming to washers and accuracy tosses. There are 11 different age brackets that the athletes compete in.

The events get started Friday at 8 a.m. and run through Sunday evening.